Apparatus for supporting and handling objects



July 21, 1931. J. P. SPEAR 1,815,218

PPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND HANDLING OBJECTS Filed Sept. 27, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 21, 1931. J. P. SPEAR 1,815,218

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND HANDLING OBJECTS Filed Sept. 27, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 66 f7 .Z @l 4 ,j o1 74 82 `5;; v) 96 Q 60 63 g 96 92 72 6 0 73 74 9/ 69%,/ O O g3 72 f /9 v 70 72 69 0 65 /m/e/Wa/ July 21, 1931. '.J. P. sPEAR 1,815,218

` APPARATUS .CR SUPPORTING AND HANDLING OBJECTS Filed sept. 27. 192s '5 sheets-sheet IsY Patented July 21, 1931 NETE@ STATES PATENT @FFHCE JAY -PARLVILEY SPEAR, OF LA GRA-NGE, ILLINOIS, AASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC (-IfOllIlANY7 INCORPORATED, OFN-EW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR SUTPORTING AND HANDLING OBJECTS Application filed September 27, 1.928. Serial No. 308,680. Y

This invention relates toapparat-us for su-pport-iiig and handling objects, and more particularly to apparatus for rotating and lifting circular objects,'such as reels and the like.

rlllie primary object of this invention is to provide a simple apparat-us for supporting and handling in a facile, safe manner heavy objects.

ln accordance with the general features of this invention in one embodiment thereof as applied to the supporting yand handling of reels containing lead covered telephone cable during a series of tests thereon, apparatus is provided including a pair of rolls normally positioned in the sam-e horizon-tal plane with their 'peripheries substantially in line with the floor and for `supporting the reel. One of the rolls is positivelyv driven, while the 2o other roll serves normally as an idler for supporting the reel during its rotation. The idler roll shaft carries rollers at each end, which normally lie adjacent peripheries of eccentrics fixed to a countershaft connected Y to the source of power by means of a hand actiiated clutch whereby upon rotary motion being imparted to the countershaft the eccentrics lift theY idler roll above the driven roll, which is idle at this time, and c-ause the reel -;30 to be rolled over the center of the driven roll and thus discharged f-roin the apparatus.

An interlocl; mechanism is arranged between a motor switch actuating lever for setting inmotion the driven roll for causing. 1:35 rotation of the reel and a clutch operating shaft for causing movement of the lifting reel for discharging the reel from the apparatus, the arrangement being such that the lifting roll cannot be set in motion while the 40 driving roll is operating to rotate the reel or viceversa.

Other objects and advantages of this in veiition will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connec- 45 tion with the accompanying drawings, in4

which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, of an apparatus for supporting and handling reels and embodying the features ..50` of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical end view, partly in section, on the line 2 2 thereof;

F 3 is a fragmentary front view, partly in section, 'of the left portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. e is an enlarged detail plan view, partly in section, of a'portion of the interlock mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

F ig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5 5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the interlock mechanism shown in Fig. 3, in the position it assumes when the driving roll is operating;

F ig. 7 is a detail section through the interlock mechanism taken on the line 7 7 of vFig. l;

Fig. 8 is a detail sec-tion through the drive to the driven roll, illustrating a clutch einbodied therein for permitting rotation of the driven roll in only one direction and taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 9 is a detail section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the `apparatus is shown in an idle or neutral position, ay pair of rolls 15 and 16 are journaled normally in the same horizontal plane with their peripheries substantially in line with the floor level upon a supporting frame 17 carried in a. pit 18 formed in a concrete structure 19 located in the floor (Figs. 1 and 2). The rolls 15 and 16 in the embodiment illustrated are used for supporting and handling heavy reels containing lead covered telephone cable and in order to conserve space in the drawings only a portion of a reel 22 is shown supported on the rolls 15 and 16 (Fig. 2), the dotted line position of the reel portion 22 illustrating the position thereof when being discharged from the apparatus. The roll 15, which is rotatably driven, is serrated or iiuted on its periphery as indicated at 23 to provide a better traction and thus a more accurate adjustment of the reel into a rotated position may be obtained. The roll 1G serves normally as an idler for supporting the reel during its rotation but is bodily lifted above the plane 0f the driven' roll 15 when it is desired to discharge the reel 22 from the apparatus by means to be presently described.

lower for driving the roll 15 and for lifting the idler roll 16 is supplied from a motor (not shown) through a worm gear speed reducer enclosed in a housing 24, fragmentarily shown in Fig. 17 to a pinion 25 which meshes with a gear 26 for driving the roll 15 which is fixed to a shaft 27 j ournaled in bearings provided in the frame 17. The gear 26 contains an over-running pawl clutch (Figs. 1 and 8) comprising a toothed clutch member 8O fixed to the shaft 27 and provided at opposite ends with reduced shoulder portions Y 31 upon whichis rotatably mounted a. pair of collars 82, which are fixed to the gear 26. Extending across an intermediate toothed portion 83 and at diametrically opposite points of the clutch member 8O is a pair of spring pressed pawls 84 pivoted at either end in the collars 32 which are maintained in position upon the shoulder portions 31 by screws 36 (Fig. 8). Proper clearance is provided between the pawls 94, the collars 32, the member 8O and the gear 26 so that the pawls may ride up inclined surfaces 87 of the toothed clutch member 8O during one operation of the apparatus when the gear 26 is being rotated. ceuntereleclmvise. It will be apparent that when the gear 26 is rotate@ counterclockwise motion will not be imparted to the member 8O and consequently the shaft 27 and the roll 15 carried thereby will not rotate, but when the gear 26 is rotated clockwise during another operation of the apparatus the spring pressed pawls 34 engaging the teeth of the member 86 will impart a similar motion to the shaft and the roll carried thereby.

rfhe pinion 25 also meshes with a gear 40 loosely mounted on a shaft 41 journaled in the frame 17. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 the left end of the shaft 41 projects from the gear 46 and carries a clutch member 42 which is secured to the shaft for rotation therewith but is free to slide thereon by means of a key and keyway rlhe opposite faces of the gear 40 and member 42 are provided with aws 44 which are adapted to enupon the member being moved towards the right upon the shaft 41 (Fig. 8) and thus when the motor (not shown) is operating motion from the pinion 25 will be transmitted through the gear 40 and the intermeshing aws to the shaft 41. Formed in the periphery of the clutch member 42 is an annular channel 47 and extending thereinto is a clutch shifting pin 48 eccentrically mounted upon the lower end of a depending rotatable shaft 49 Fig. 5 a- 1800 rotary movement of which will shift the pin from its normal position shown in Figs. 8 and 5 to an operative position to engage the jaws 44. The means for operating the shaft 49 to open and close the jaws will be described hereinafter.

Fixed to the shaft 41 at opposite ends are eccentrics 50 which in the operation of the apparatus engage rollers 51 carried on the ends of a shaft 52 to which the idler or lifting roll 16 is fixed. The shaft 52 is journaled at either end in bearings 55 slidably mounted for vertical movement in slideways 56 provided in the frame 17. In the normal position of the roll 16 as shown in Fig. 2 the bearings 55 rest npon a horizontal surface 57 of the frame 17 with the low point of the eccentric 50 slightly spaced from the roll 51. It will be apparent that upon the shaft 41 being set in motion by the engagement of the clutch jaws 44 as hereinbefore described, the eccentrics 50 will engage the rolls 51 and cause the roll 16 to be lifted above the driven roll 15, which, as will be more fully described hereinafter, is idle at this time, to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 and cause the reel 22 to be rolled over the center of the driven roll 15 and thus discharged from the apparatus.

A reversing motor not shown) is used to provide power to rotate the roll 15 and to lift the roll 16, the shaft from the worm gear speed reducer carrying the pinion 25 being driven counterclockwise when driving the roll 15 and clockwise when operating the lifting roll 16. A motor reversing switch 58 of ordinary commercial type is shown in outline in Fig. 2 and to the upper end of a vertical operating shaft 59 thereof is fixed a switch operating lever 60 set in a floor plate 63, the shaft being journaled at its upper end in the fioor plate. In operating the switch 58 an operator uses his foot to move the lever 60 from the full line neutral position to the dotted line position at the right thereof for causing the driving roll 15 to operate, or to the dotted line position at the left thereof for causing the operation of the lifting roll 16 as shown in Fig. 1. The switch lever 60 is maintained in either of its dotted line positions by the operators foot until the desired rotative adjustment of the reel has taken place or until the reel has been lifted sufficiently to cause its discharge from the rolls, against the action of tension springs 64 of equal strength, each attached at on end to the iioor plate 68 and their opposite ends to another lever 65 which is fixed to the switch shaft 59 between the switch 58 and the lever 60 (Fig. 7), the lever 65 extending parallel to but in a direction opposite to that of the lever 60. The action of the springs 64 is to immediately operate the switch lever 60 to its neutral position upon the operator releasing it from either of its dotted line positions.

The lever 65 forms a part of an interlock mechanism 66 provided between the motor switch 58 and the lifting roll clutch operating shaft 49 whereby the lifting roll 16 can- CII not be set in motion while the driving roll 15 is operating to rotate the reel 22 or vice versa. One purpose of this is to permit the use of a minimum horse power moto-r, one that will in operating in one direction or the other be suiiicient only to operate the driving roll or the lifting roll at one time, since it is not necessary or desirable that both rolls be operated at the same time. Furthermore, if power were applied to the driving roll 15 during the operationof the lifting roll 16, the reel 22 upon being discharged from the apparatus would roll with increased force, due to the action of the driving roll rotating the reel in the direction in which it rolls away from the apparatus and thus likely to cause damage and injury. Therefore, to prevent an overload of the motor and the latter condition the interlock mechanism 66 is provided between the motor switch 58 and the lifting roll clutch operating shaft 49, which mechanism serves to prevent a simultaneous actuation of the rolls for causing rotation and displacement of the reel at the same time, or in other words, the actuation of the rolls is limited to different times for causing rotation and displacement of the reel. Secured to a vertical wall of the speed reducer housing 24 (Figs. 3 and 4) is a bracket 69 provided at one end with a vertical sleeve portion 70 in axial alignment with the jaw clutch operating shaft 49 (Fig. 5). Fixed by means of a pin 71 against vertical and rotary movement within theportion 70 is a shouldered sleeve 72 forming a housing for the shaft 49 extending therethrough. The sleeve 72 at its upper end is enlarged and is provided with a peripheral slot 73 which extends therearound for substantially 180 (Fig. 4) within which is arranged to ride a laterally extending pin 74 fixed to the shaft 49. The pin 74 and the slot 73 in addition to limiting the rotation of the shaft 49 to 180o Which, as hereinbefore described, moves the eccentrically mounted clutch shifting pin 48 to cause the engagement of the jaws 44 of the clutch member 42 with the jaws 44 of the gear 40, serves with a. shoulder 75 upon the lower end of the shaft 49 to prevent vertical movement of the shaft within the sleeve 72. A spring pressed ball 7 6 carried within the enlargedportion of the sleeve 72 above the slot 73 and engaging withindepressions 79 spaced 180 apartserves to lock the clutch shaft 49 from being rotated accidently from either of its operated positions by vibration, etc. The etrtreme upper end 80 of the shaft 49 is square in cross-section and extends into an enlarged depression 81 provided in the upper end sur- Vface of the sleeve 72. To rotate the shaft 49 to engage or disengage, the clutch jaws 44 a Vkey 82 (Figs. V2 and 5) provided with a head 83 having a square depression 84 is operatively engaged with the squared end 80 of the shaft, the head 83 fitting within the depression 81 of the sleeve 7 2. The key head 84 is provided with an annular peripheral channel 87 with a lower flange 88 thereof provided with a slot 89 (Fig. 9) which is aligned with an inwardly projecting pin 90 fixed in the peripheral wall of the depression 81 of the sleeve 7 2 when operatively engaging the key with the squared end 80 of the shaft 49 when the clutch jaws 44 are in their normal or disengaged position as shown in Fig. 3. T he pin 90 and channel 87 insures a predetermined condition of the clutch jaws 44 when engaging or disengaging the key from the shaft 49. l

Pivoted upon the bracket 69 is an interlock pawl 91 provided at one end with a Vhook portion 92 and a cam face 93 arranged for engagement with the pin 74 carried by the shaft 49. The opposite end of the pawl is weighted and has a cam face 95 and a shoulder 96. ln the neutral position of the switch lever 60 and the associated lever 65, as shown iu Figs. 1 and 3, the weighted end of the pawl 91 maintains the hook 92 thereof clear of the pin 74 with the shoulder 96 out of the path of the lever 65, and thus it will be apparent that the lever 65 may be moved to either of the dotted outline positions thereof as shown in Fig. 1 upon actuating the switch lever 60 in the manner hereinbefore described Upon the lever 65 being moved counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1, or to the driving position, it will engage the cam face 95 of the pawl 91 and cause it to turn clockwise about its pivot into the position shown in Fig. ,6, wherein it will be observed the hook portion 92 is operatively engaged with the pin 74 to prevent movement thereof. In this condition with the driving roll 15 operating it is not possible to rotate the shaft 49 to engage the clutch jaw 44 to set in motion the lifting roll 16 when the apparatus is in the neutral position (Fig. 3) the key 82 is engaged with the shaft 49 in the manner hereinbefore-described and turned 180 until the pin 74 comes to a rest at the opposite side of the slot 73, thus engaging the aws 44 and thereafter the switch operating lever 60 is actuated, which moves the lever 65 clockwise. It will be observed when the lever 65 is in the neutral position (Fig. 3) that upon the pin 74 being rotated out of association with thehook 92 and the cam face 93 the pawl 91 will be free to rotate on its pivot due to the weighted end thereof and thus the shoulder 96 will be moved downwardly such a distance that it will lie in the path of the lever 65 and prevent a movement thereof to the driving position shown in Fig. 6. This prevents the operation of the driving roll 15 when the lifting roll 16 is operating. Thus individual means is provided for controlling the actuation of the rolls 15 and 16 forcausing rotation of the reel 22 and a bodily'movement of the roll'16 to4 displace the reel from its normal position on the rolls, each acting in one position to control the actuation of the other. This last movement ofthe pawl 91 counterclockwise causes the cam face 93 to` move upwardly into a plane which lies in the path of the pin 7 4 when the latter' is moved clockwise from the dotted line operative position thereof to its normal full line position, as shown in Fig. 4. In the movement of the pin 74 as just described it engages the cam face 93 and rocks the pawl 91 clockwise, thus drawing the shoulder 96 out of the path-of the lever 65 when the lever is being moved to the roll driving position as hereinbefore described.

A general description of operation ofthe apparatus it is believed will be suihcient in view of the detailed description hereinbefore given. The apparatus as before mentioned is particularly applicable for rotating a reel containinglead covered cable during a series of tests thereon and thereafter to discharge the reel from the apparatus. In positioningl the reel 22 upon the rolls 15 and 16, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, it may be readily rolled into position or placed by a crane thereon, the switch operating lever 60 and the interlock mechanism being in their neutral position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In positioning' the reel upon the rolls 15 and 16 no attention is given to the angular position assumed by the end of the cable wound thereon and to which testing apparatus is applied, the cable end being` in any of the positions it may happen to take and not in a convenient angular position for testing. The operator then moves the switch operating lever 60 with his foot to the right hand dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, which carries the interlock lever 65 to the position shown in full lines in Figs. 6, thus locking the pin 74 in the hook 92 of the pawl 91 and preventing, in the manner hereinbefore described, the engagement of the clutch jaws 44 to set in motion the eccentrics 50 to lift the roll 16. The operator continues to hold the lever 60 in itsv operated position until the desired rotation of the reel 2,2 has taken place tor angularly position the cable end for testing purposes, whereupon he releases the lever 60 and it returns to its neutral position under the action of the springs 64. After these tests are completed another test is sometimes performed on the cable about twelve feet to the left of the driving roll 15 and at this position lit is also desirable that the cable end be in a predetermined angular position for vthe test. Y

To accomplish this the reel is again rotated inthe same manner as before described until the cable end reaches a certain angularposition and upon the reel being lifted and rolled off the apparatus it will roll into its testing position with the cable end in the desired position. To set in motion the lifting roll 16 the operator operatively engages the key 82 with the clutch operating shaft 49 and rotates the pin 74 18()O as hereinbefore described to engage the jaws 44 of the member 42 and the gear 40. This permits the shoulder 96 of the pawl 91 to move downwardly into the path of the lever 65 when it is moved in operating the switch lever 60 to set in motion the roll 15, thus locking the switch 58 from being operated to set in motion the roll 15 during a lifting operation of the roll 16. rThereafter the operator moves the switch operating lever 60 with his foot to the left hand dotted line position as shown in Fig. 1, and thus the drive to the eccentrics 50 is completed and in rotating they engage the rollers 51 and thereby cause the reel 22 to move upwardly. From the description hereinbefore given it will be apparent during the lifting operation that due to the over-running pawl clutch carried by the gear 26, the roll 15 will not be power rotated, but will remain idlewhile the. gear 26 will rotate idly in a counterclockwise direction as compared to its clockwise rotation when serving to rotate the roll 15. The eccentrics 50 move the roll 16 and reel 22 upwardly a distance sufficient to cause the reel to roll over the center of the driven roll 15 and thus be discharged from the apparatus, the operator continuing to hold the lever 60 in its operated position until he observes that the roll 16 has been returned to its normal position with the lower surface of the bearing block 55 resting against the surface 57 of the frame. The switch lever is then released and it returns to its neutral position under the action ofthe springs 64. The clutch jaws 44 are then disengaged by turning the key S2 to move the pin 74 to its normal position and in so doing it engages the cam face 93 of the pawl 9.1 and rocks it clockwise to the neutral position shown in Fig. 3 with the shoulder 96 out of the path of the lever 65, the apparatus now being ready for another cycle of operations.

Although the invention has been disclosed and described for rotating and lifting circular objects, such as reels and the like, it is clear that it may have a more general application and that modification can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for supporting and handling objects, elements engaging the periphery of and cooperating to support an object, means for elevating one of the elements to effect a displacement of the supported object, and means for guiding the latter element along a straight vertical path during its elevation.

2. In an apparatus for supporting and handling circular objects, rotary elements engaging the periphery of and cooperating to support a circular` object, means for elevation ing one of the elements to eiect a removal of the object from the elements, and means or guiding the latter element along a straight vertical path during its elevation.

3. In an apparatus for supporting and handling circular objects, rotary elements engaging the periphery of a circular object and cooperating to cause rotation thereof, means for elevating one of the elements to eliect a displacement of the object on the elements, and means including parallel stationary slideways for guiding the latter element along a straight vertical path during its elevation.

4. In an apparatus for supporting and handling circular objects, a plurality of rolls on substantially the same horizontal plane engaging and cooperating to support a circular object, means for elevating one of the rolls motion a removal of the obj ect from the rolls, to eiect by a combined lifting and rolling and means including parallel stationary slideways for guiding the latter roll along a straight vertical path during its elevation.

5. In an apparatus for supporting and handling circular objects, a driven roll, an idler roll, the rolls engaging a circular object and cooperating to support and rotate the same, and means for moving one of the rolls upwardly along a straight vertical path to eiiect a displacement of the object from the rolls.

6. In an apparatus for supporting and handling circular objects, a plurality of rolls, the rolls being mounted in the iioor with their peripheries substantially on the same horizontal plane and in line with the floor, the rolls engaging the periphery of a circular object and cooperating to support and rotate the same, means for actuating one of the rolls by a bodily movement thereof relative to the other roll to effect a displacement of the object from the rolls, and means for guiding the bodily moved roll along a straight vertical p ath during its movement.

7. In an apparatus for supporting and handling circular objects, a driven roll, an idler roll, the rolls engaging and'cooperating to support and rotate a circular object, and means for elevating the idler roll along a straight vertical path to eiect a displacement of the object from the rolls.

8. In an apparatus for supporting and driving circular reels, a plurality of oppositely disposed rolls engaging a reel and cooperating to rictionally drive the same, means for moving one of the rolls upwardly to bodily lift the reel and move it over the center of the oppositely disposed roll, and means for guiding the upwardly movable roll along a straight vertical path during the lifting of the reel.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of September, A. D.

JAY PARMLEY SPEAR. 

